Towers Road in Horsetooth Mountain Park is a local favorite for hill training. I run up Towers at least once each week – usually several times and quite often more than once in a day. While there may be steeper trails out there, I really like training on Towers Road because it’s both steep and completely runnable. In the winter, most of the road is plowed regularly or at least has some tire tracks from the utility vehicles which go up to access the towers at the top. So it’s a great year-round training hill.
Every other Thursday evening at 6pm Nick hosts a handicap time trial up Towers. This has turned out to be one of the most popular group run with the Fort Collins Trail Runners.
The start is at the Soderberg Trailhead at the end of Shoreline Drive. Park info and directions are online here.
There is a $6 fee per vehicle. Larimer County Parks passes are $65 but are only valid for a calendar year so it doesn’t make much sense to buy a pass late in the year.
The official time trial start is at the trailhead sign next to the restrooms. The corner of the building across the clearing at the top is the official finish.
Here’s the map.
Route: 6.8 Miles round trip
Elevation:
Approximately 1,650ft ascent
High point: 7,133ft, Low point: 5,450ft
The trailhead has plenty of parking, bathrooms, and water. The regular water fountains are shut off during the winter but there is a pump across the parking lot that works year round.
The full Horsetooth Mountain Trail Map
We run up Towers early before dawn.
We run up Towers year round - even in snow.
We run up Towers at night.
On a good morning, we can catch day break over Fort Collins.
Winter is the best time of year to catch the sunrise from the top.
On a clear day there is a great view of Longs Peak from the top.
